The world probably lists Cambodia as one of the country, which has a lot of public holidays. Some of them are well the most important for the nation such as remembrance days, Khmer New Year, Independent day. etc. These are the most observable list across the year.

1.     National Victory Day – 7^th January

The National Victory Day has celebrated as the day that the whole nation finally put an end to the brutal regime of Khmer Rouge. The regime, which took millions of lives and left many orphans, was the darkest era for Cambodian and the world. Thus, the royal government of Cambodia as well as people in the country, will celebrate the day as their second birthday and remind the world about the tragedy of the holocaust to the souls of Cambodian people.

2.     Khmer New Year – 14^th – 17^th April

Traditionally, Khmer New Year is celebrated for 3 days only, however, it has changed to 4 days event after the royal government decided to amend the public holiday dates in 2019. The Khmer New Year is the most important of all as the whole nation erupt with celebration and welcome the blessing from the deity. Each of the province will host their own public celebration to bring people together and the most well-known one is Siem Reap Sangkran, which have hosted millions of tourists from all around the country and the world. As the tradition, people will prepare the offering and visit the pagoda, likewise, public gathering for dancing, water cannon or blessing and cultural performance also being held.

3.     The King Sihamoni’s Birthday – 14^th May

The current ruling king of Cambodia is his majesty the king “Norodom Sihamoni”. The king is the beloved symbol of peace and prosperity of the nation. Within the celebration of his birthday, the event is being hosted in the Royal Palace and the other places such as Government building, school, bank will be closed its operation and decorate with blessing words. Thus, if you happen to visit the Royal Palace on these dates, you will not be allowed to enter but you can witness it from the outside.

4.     Queen Mother’s Birthday – 18^th June

The queen mother’s birthday is also served as one of the public holiday in Cambodia. The queen mother, her majesty “Norodom Monineath” was born in 1936. During the celebration, all operation of bank, public offices and schools are closed and decorated with the portrait of the queen with blessing words.

5.     Pchum Ben Day – September

The Pchum ben day is probably the longest celebration of traditional event in the world with the record of 15 days. However, only the last three days that all the office of public companies, schools, banks are allowed to cease all operations. Thus, their employee can travel to the hometown to join the celebration with their relatives. The purpose of Pchhum ben is portrayed as the day that hell door is opened to all sinned souls, wandering to the earth to receive the blessing from their relatives. During the 15 days, monk will start their blessing event early in the morning by 3 or 4 am and many people will join in the ceremony, while bringing a sweet rice food, candle and incense to offer to sinned souls that believing starving for the whole year. Moreover, one ceremony after another ceremony will continue through the day until 12 pm every day for the long 15 days.

6.     Commemoration Day of King’s Father, Norodom Sihanouk – 15^th Oct

Cambodian’s King Father’s, the King, Norodom Sihnouk, the father of independent of Cambodia had passed away in 2012 in Beijing, China. The whole nation mourned for his death as he was the beloved king and the father of the nation. One of his significant success was the day that he took Cambodia back from the administration of French government in 1953 after almost 100 years of French colonialism.

7.     Water Festival – November

Cambodian Water Festival has been celebrated at the Mekong River in front of the Royal Palace for hundreds of years. The festivity lasts for three days of boats competing against each other. Thousands of boats, which represent each provinces, districts and villages, will march to the city few days before the competition day to train for the exciting event. During the festival, millions of people will come to the city of Phnom Penh to witness their beloved representative boats and the competition as the whole. In addition to the competition, it is also bringing more tourist, hosting a lot of fairs shows, many huge concerts as well. These three days event is one of the most anticipated of all.

8.     Independence Day – 9^th November

Every year since 1953, on November 9^th, Cambodian celebrate their independence from the government of French. Cambodia had been colonized by French people for almost 100 of years since 1863, during the colonization, people were being held captive, forced to pay extreme taxes, losing sovereignty to their own motherland and many well-known scholars had been killed fighting for freedom. However, on November 9^th 1953, the king father’s Norodom Sihanouk had won us the freedom and sovereignty of  country.